Cricket: NZ brains trust on Donald

CHRISTCHURCH - The New Zealand batsmen will attend a snap meeting at their hotel this morning, with the main items on the agenda appearing to be Allan Donald, Allan Donald and Allan Donald.

The South African spearhead showed enough of his acclaimed pace at Carisbrook on Sunday for the Kiwis to take special precautions before today's second Bank of New Zealand one-dayer at Lancaster Park.

Coach Steve Rixon conceded that the man known as "White Lightning" had already prompted one discussion among the New Zealand batsmen, and would be the principle topic at another gathering this morning.

"When you're playing fast bowling there are some basics which need to be adhered to," Rixon said yesterday. "We've addressed that already. We'll go a step further and have another talk about it with our batters in a specific session tomorrow morning.

"But we're mindful that everyone's different, and everyone has a preferred method against quick bowling."

He said there would be far more sense in taking a low-risk - and perhaps low-scoring - policy against Donald, than trying to attack him like any other bowler.

"The bottom line is that we need to be working to a specific plan. He's the major strike bowler for them and if we can see him off it could lead to a good result. It's something you have to consider with most opposition attacks, whether they contain a Kumble, a Donald or a McGrath."

New Zealand will field a slightly reshuffled line-up tonight - with Chris Cairns out and Roger Twose back - and it seems likely that the home side will play all their batsmen and again leave out a bowler.

Rixon hinted yesterday that if both Matthew Bell and Roger Twose played, one (almost certainly Twose) would bat at No 4 and the other would be listed to come in at No 8.

Lancaster Park appeared to be a little more placid than the Carisbrook pitch, but it would still be something of a surprise if Geoff Allott, who bowled so well at Carisbrook, was omitted at the expense of Simon Doull.

Cairns out until May

All things going well, Chris Cairns' next international cricket appointment will be against Hampshire at Southampton.

The New Zealand allrounder received the worst possible news yesterday morning when he was told his injured right calf was more seriously damaged than first thought.

Results from a further assessment on Monday night showed the muscle had ruptured and had a hole in it, and would force Cairns out of cricket for four to six weeks.

Although this means he stands a faint chance of being fit in time for New Zealand's final one-dayer against South Africa on March 30, the selectors are not likely to risk him again until the World Cup campaign in May.

New Zealand warm up for their first Cup match at Chelmsford with a handful of games against the counties, starting at Southampton against Hampshire.

Rixon said Cairns would prove difficult to replace against South Africa, as he played a significant role with both the bat and the ball.

"Not only is he dynamic with both, but he's been in outstanding nick, both mentally and physically, and when he's like that you want him playing for you.

"When we talk of this New Zealand team developing character, he's one of the guys we have in mind. Throughout this season we've had guys stepping up at critical times, and he's often been one of them."

Cairns was woken throughout the night on Sunday and Monday morning so his leg could be iced every 90 minutes, but a subsequent examination from New Zealand Cricket doctor Rob Campbell showed the full extent of the damage.

The muscle is apparently still swollen and Cairns is scheduled to undergo more scans today.

Pictured: Alan Donald.